Link strap



Sept. 18, 192 8.

C. R. TOST LINK STRAP Filed June 9, 1927 jwe7z?07' izarzas 'a zbsii @WMM claims and the Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Application filed June 9,

This invention relates to link straps of the type commonly employed'as bracelets or as wrist watch straps and 1ts object is to provide a stra which may be constructed w1th 5 facility an economy, which is reliable and durable in use, and which presents a substantially continuous outer surface. The sallent characteristics of the invention will be evident from the following description and accompanying drawings, 1n which Fig. 1.is a plan view; Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of F g. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3.3 of Fig. 2; Fi 4 is a bottom plan of one of the link mem rs; and Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification.

The particular embodiment of my improved link strap illustrated in Figs. -1 to 4 comprises outer llllk members 1 and inner link members 2 interlinked together. At the r juxtaposed ends the outer link members have inturned flanges 3 which may incline 1n- 2 wardly or outwardly but which are preferably substantially arallel with the central portions of the mem rs as illustrated in Fig. The inner link members have similar flanges 4 interlocking with the flanges 3. The degree of lost-motion between the link members may be varied to suit the intended conditions of use but where the strap is intended to be worn around to wrist there is suflicient lost-motion to permit the. stra to flex 85 enough to conformto the contour o the wrist. When the strap isintended to be used with the inner links 2 next tothe wrist the lost-motion lengthwise of the strap may be made so slight that the strap will not flex outwardly in substantial degree because of the ab'utt1ng'relation between the outer links at points 5.

The inner and outer links are telescoped together transversely of the strap and are then held in this relationship by any suitable means such as flan es 6 on the ends of the outer links. The flanges 6 extend parallel with the central portions of the link .members at the time when the links are interconnected as shown in Fig. 4 and are then bent down as shown in Fig. 3.

Any suitable end connecting means may be employed with the strap above described and for the purpose of illustration I have shown a simple fastener 7 which interlinks with one of the outer links in the same manner as the 1927f Serial No. 197,658.

inner links as shown at 8 and which has an opening 9 for connection with a clas or other device. The shoulder 10 holds the astener 7 in position lengthwise of the strap.

The modification shown in Fig.5 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 in that it comprises inner and outer link members 1 and 2 but differs inthat filler members 11 are provided to fill the spaces between the inper link members 2, these filler members .being held in position by end flanges on the outer link members as above described.

From the foregoing it will be evident that this lmproved construction is not only simple and economical but that the outer face of the strap presents a substantially continuous surface-owing to the fact that the outer link members are held in abutting relation. By fittin the parts together so snugly that the strap wi not flex outwardly in substantial degree, the stra may be manipulated with greater facil- 1ty t an in a case where it is free to flex in both directions.

It will also be evident that each of theouter and lnner links comprises a central plate portlon bent or folded at each end to form the interfittlng hooks or flanges, port ons of the outer links, which are on the outside of the bracelet, being parallel with the central plate portions of the inner links, whichare on the inner side of the bracelet, when the bracelet is straightened to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

I claim: I

1. A link strap comprising inner and outer llnks telescoped together transversely of the stra with sufiicient lost-motion to permit longitu inal flexure of the strap and means for holding the links in telescoped relation while permitting said flexure, the outer links substantially meeting throughout substantially the width of the strap and the inner links being substantially concealed by the outer links when viewed from the outside of the strap.

2. A link strap comprising outer links having outer central plate portions with transverse inturned flanges at their juxtaposed ends, inner links having inner central plate portions parallel to said plate portions with outturned end flanges hooking over said flanges to interconnect the outer links, and inturned flanges at the sides of the outer links to restrain displacement of the inner links transversely of the strap.

the central plate 1 3. Alink strap comprising outer links havflanges, telescoping the flanges of adjacent ing transverse inturned flanges at their juslinks together in interlocking relationship, taposed ends, inner links having end flanges and then bending the sides of, alternate links hookin over said flanges to interconnectthe to form the aforesaid retaining flanges.

5 outer finks, the outer links substantiall 6. Alink strapcomprising inner and outer 25 meeting throughout substantially the widt links, said inner links having inner central of the strap and the'inner links being subplate portions curving outwardly at their stantiall concealed b the outer links when ends to form loops, said outer links having inviewed r-om the outsi e of the stra ner central plate portions curving inwardly 10 4. A link strap comprising outer l inks havat their ends to form loops, the loops of the 3 ing transverse inturned flanges at their juxinner and outer links interengagin to intertaposed ends, inner links having end flanges connect the links, and said outer finks hav hooking over said'flanges to interconnect the in flanges at their sides for retaining the outer links, and fillers 'dis'posed between the lin in assembled relationshipin all angu- 15 opposing ends of the inner llnks. lar positions of the links relatively to each 35 5. The method of manufacturin link other.

straps of the type having inner an outer- Si ed by me at Providence, Rhode Island, links having interlocking end flanges and rethis gt h day of J mm, 1927.

taining side flanges, which comprises bend- V 20 ing sheet metal strips at the ends to form said CHARLES R. TOST, 

